Religion Notes: June 29

Published: Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

FLAT ROCK

Pinecrest hosts patriotic service

Pinecrest Presbyterian Church at 1790 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, will hold its annual patriotic Independence Day worship service at 10:55 a.m.

Sunday.

The service will be led by Senior Pastor Rhett Carson and feature a sermon by Col. Doug Jones. The East Henderson High AFJROTC cadets will post the colors and conduct a flag-folding ceremony. Patriotic music will include the national anthem and “God Bless America,” and the service will include the unfurling of the large “Vince Colan” American flag, closing with taps.

After the service, apple pie and ice cream will be served in Evans Hall. All veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms. Call 828-697-9026 for more information.

Presbyterians to hold PC USA services

The continuing members of First Presbyterian Church who remain affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA will hold weekly church services at 2 p.m. Sundays in Trinity Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary.

Adult and children’s Sunday school classes are offered at 1 p.m. at Trinity at 900 Blythe St.

The service is open to all. The Rev. Dr. Allen Smith will preach, and pianist Thommy Snead will provide music. A special message for children will be given.

First Presbyterian announced earlier this month that it is ending its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church USA and reaffiliating with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. As part of the process, the church at 699 N. Grove St. will change its name in the future.

Email 1stPresHendo@ gmail.com for more information on the continuing First Presbyterian congregation.

St. James Episcopal to give guided tours

In celebration of its 150th anniversary, St.

James Episcopal Church at 766 N. Main St. will host special guided tours at 10 a.m. July 13, Aug.

10, 24, 31 and Sept. 7.

The tours will focus on the church’s Gothic architecture, stained glass windows, and English-made pipe organ and tower bells. Visitors will observe the guild of change-ringers as they practice pulling ropes in precise sequence to swing heavy bells high overhead.

Rather than focusing on the bells, the special tour at 10 a.m. July 18 will showcase the Harrison & Harrison organ with 2,573 pipes. Organist Bradford Gee will explain how this powerful instrument complements the church’s acoustic setting.

Each wall of the St. James nave and sanctuary offers large stained glass windows. The several dozen windows depict in realistic detail a history of Christianity, Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church.

The tour leader is parish archivist Charles Medd, known as a lively and wellinformed guide. No reservations are necessary, and tours begin at the cloister, the covered stone walkway near the entrance.

First Baptist Church at 94 S. Gaston St. in Brevard will host a community musical at 7 p.m. Sunday.

The choirs of Little River Baptist Church, Enon Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and others will join to perform the patriotic musical “Stars and Stripes Forever” by Russell Mauldin.

The musical will be followed by a short keynote address by Brevard Mayor Jimmy Harris. During his address, he will emphasize the theme “In God We Trust.”

Harris, a former member of the Air Force, will recognize veterans and active servicemen and -women of our armed forces.

There is no charge for the musical, and the public is welcome. Military veterans and active duty personnel are encouraged to dress in part or whole in their service uniforms.

Call 828-883-8251 for more information.

Grace Lutheran youth mission trip to Va.

Twenty high school youth and five adult guides from Grace Lutheran Church will travel to Onancock, Va., during the week of July 13-20 for a Youth-Works mission trip.

Onancock is on the Eastern Shore of Virginia on a narrow peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Chesapeake Bay on the west.

Nearly 2,000 participating churches will send more than 40,000 youth to 80 YouthWorks’ mission sites this summer. Grace Lutheran youth will be joined by youth from congregations across the United States that have also selected Onancock as their destination.

During the week, the youth will lead Kids Club, which is a hands-on program offering high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help local children learn about Jesus.

They will also participate in work projects such as painting houses, performing minor home repair, cleaning up debris, volunteering in community gardens and other projects in the community.

The youth will be housed in a local church, and participants must provide their own sleeping bags and floor mats. Meals are prepared by the youth and adult teams on site during the week.

Previous summer faith service experiences have included places such as Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Call 828-693-4890 for more information.

BOSTON

Priest who advocates female ordination can’t speak at local parish

Cardinal Sean O’Malley banned an Austrian priest from speaking at a parish because the priest advocates ordaining women and making celibacy for priests optional.

The Rev. Helmut Schuller was scheduled to speak at Saint Susanna Parish in Dedham on July 17 as part of 15-city U.S. tour. His talk has been moved to a nearby Unitarian Universalist church, The Boston Globe reported.

Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said in a statement that the archdiocese’s policy is “not to permit individuals to conduct speaking engagements in Catholic parishes or at church events when those individuals promote positions that are contrary to Catholic teachings.”

Schuller is founder of the Austrian Priests’ Initiative, which advocates allowing women and married people to become priests as a way to address a global priest shortage. The initiative organized a “Call to Disobedience,” which was signed two years ago by several hundred priests who pledged, among other things, to begin serving communion to non-Catholics and promote women’s ordination.

WASHINGTON

National Cathedral rings bells for gay marriage

The National Cathedral rang its church bells, along with some other Washington churches, to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decisions on gay marriage.

Cathedral spokesman Richard Weinberg said the bells rang at noon Wednesday. Bells were also set to ring at other Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian and other Christian churches.

The cathedral scheduled a prayer service for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families Wednesday evening to celebrate the ruling.

In a statement, the cathedral’s dean, the Rev. Gary Hall, says the church is ringing its bells “to celebrate the extension of federal marriage equality to all the same-sex couples modeling God’s love in lifelong covenants.”

Hall says the ruling should serve as a call for Christians to embrace religious marriage equality.

<p>FLAT ROCK </p><p>Pinecrest hosts patriotic service </p><p>Pinecrest Presbyterian Church at 1790 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, will hold its annual patriotic Independence Day worship service at 10:55 a.m.</p><p>Sunday.</p><p>The service will be led by Senior Pastor Rhett Carson and feature a sermon by Col. Doug Jones. The East Henderson High AFJROTC cadets will post the colors and conduct a flag-folding ceremony. Patriotic music will include the national anthem and “God Bless America,” and the service will include the unfurling of the large “Vince Colan” American flag, closing with taps.</p><p>After the service, apple pie and ice cream will be served in Evans Hall. All veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms. Call 828-697-9026 for more information. </p><p>Presbyterians to hold PC USA services </p><p>The continuing members of First Presbyterian Church who remain affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA will hold weekly church services at 2 p.m. Sundays in Trinity Presbyterian Church's sanctuary.</p><p>Adult and children's Sunday school classes are offered at 1 p.m. at Trinity at 900 Blythe St.</p><p>The service is open to all. The Rev. Dr. Allen Smith will preach, and pianist Thommy Snead will provide music. A special message for children will be given.</p><p>First Presbyterian announced earlier this month that it is ending its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church USA and reaffiliating with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. As part of the process, the church at 699 N. Grove St. will change its name in the future.</p><p>Email 1stPresHendo@ gmail.com for more information on the continuing First Presbyterian congregation. </p><p>St. James Episcopal to give guided tours </p><p>In celebration of its 150th anniversary, St.</p><p>James Episcopal Church at 766 N. Main St. will host special guided tours at 10 a.m. July 13, Aug.</p><p>10, 24, 31 and Sept. 7.</p><p>The tours will focus on the church's Gothic architecture, stained glass windows, and English-made pipe organ and tower bells. Visitors will observe the guild of change-ringers as they practice pulling ropes in precise sequence to swing heavy bells high overhead. </p><p>Rather than focusing on the bells, the special tour at 10 a.m. July 18 will showcase the Harrison & Harrison organ with 2,573 pipes. Organist Bradford Gee will explain how this powerful instrument complements the church's acoustic setting. </p><p>Each wall of the St. James nave and sanctuary offers large stained glass windows. The several dozen windows depict in realistic detail a history of Christianity, Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church. </p><p>The tour leader is parish archivist Charles Medd, known as a lively and wellinformed guide. No reservations are necessary, and tours begin at the cloister, the covered stone walkway near the entrance. </p><p>Call 828-693-7458, visit www.stjamesepiscopal. com or email info@ stjamesepiscopal.com for more information. </p><p>BREVARD </p><p>First Baptist to host community musical </p><p>First Baptist Church at 94 S. Gaston St. in Brevard will host a community musical at 7 p.m. Sunday. </p><p>The choirs of Little River Baptist Church, Enon Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and others will join to perform the patriotic musical “Stars and Stripes Forever” by Russell Mauldin. </p><p>The musical will be followed by a short keynote address by Brevard Mayor Jimmy Harris. During his address, he will emphasize the theme “In God We Trust.” </p><p>Harris, a former member of the Air Force, will recognize veterans and active servicemen and -women of our armed forces. </p><p>There is no charge for the musical, and the public is welcome. Military veterans and active duty personnel are encouraged to dress in part or whole in their service uniforms. </p><p>Call 828-883-8251 for more information. </p><p>Grace Lutheran youth mission trip to Va. </p><p>Twenty high school youth and five adult guides from Grace Lutheran Church will travel to Onancock, Va., during the week of July 13-20 for a Youth-Works mission trip. </p><p>Onancock is on the Eastern Shore of Virginia on a narrow peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Chesapeake Bay on the west. </p><p>Nearly 2,000 participating churches will send more than 40,000 youth to 80 YouthWorks' mission sites this summer. Grace Lutheran youth will be joined by youth from congregations across the United States that have also selected Onancock as their destination. </p><p>YouthWork's core purpose is to provide lifechanging, Christ- centered mission trips. </p><p>During the week, the youth will lead Kids Club, which is a hands-on program offering high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help local children learn about Jesus. </p><p>They will also participate in work projects such as painting houses, performing minor home repair, cleaning up debris, volunteering in community gardens and other projects in the community. </p><p>The youth will be housed in a local church, and participants must provide their own sleeping bags and floor mats. Meals are prepared by the youth and adult teams on site during the week. </p><p>Previous summer faith service experiences have included places such as Philadelphia and New Orleans. </p><p>Call 828-693-4890 for more information. </p><p>BOSTON </p><p>Priest who advocates female ordination can't speak at local parish </p><p>Cardinal Sean O'Malley banned an Austrian priest from speaking at a parish because the priest advocates ordaining women and making celibacy for priests optional. </p><p>The Rev. Helmut Schuller was scheduled to speak at Saint Susanna Parish in Dedham on July 17 as part of 15-city U.S. tour. His talk has been moved to a nearby Unitarian Universalist church, The Boston Globe reported. </p><p>Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese, said in a statement that the archdiocese's policy is “not to permit individuals to conduct speaking engagements in Catholic parishes or at church events when those individuals promote positions that are contrary to Catholic teachings.” </p><p>Schuller is founder of the Austrian Priests' Initiative, which advocates allowing women and married people to become priests as a way to address a global priest shortage. The initiative organized a “Call to Disobedience,” which was signed two years ago by several hundred priests who pledged, among other things, to begin serving communion to non-Catholics and promote women's ordination. </p><p>WASHINGTON </p><p>National Cathedral rings bells for gay marriage </p><p>The National Cathedral rang its church bells, along with some other Washington churches, to celebrate the Supreme Court's decisions on gay marriage. </p><p>Cathedral spokesman Richard Weinberg said the bells rang at noon Wednesday. Bells were also set to ring at other Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Unitarian and other Christian churches. </p><p>The cathedral scheduled a prayer service for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families Wednesday evening to celebrate the ruling. </p><p>In a statement, the cathedral's dean, the Rev. Gary Hall, says the church is ringing its bells “to celebrate the extension of federal marriage equality to all the same-sex couples modeling God's love in lifelong covenants.” </p><p>Hall says the ruling should serve as a call for Christians to embrace religious marriage equality. </p><p>From staff and wire reports</p>